Rail staff to strike in pay row

Rail maintenance workers and cleaners have agreed to stage a one-day strike in a row over hours and overtime.

The Rail Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) said 400 of its members at First Great Western will walk out on 18 May.

The union claims the company has refused to pay an enhanced overtime rate or agree a set 35-hour week.

The workers, based at Bristol, Reading, Oxford, Penzance, Exeter, Plymouth, Swansea and London, voted three to one in favour or taking industrial action.

The Union's general secretary Bob Crow said: "The vast majority of First Great Western engineering and cleaning staff are still paid the flat hourly rate for overtime rather than the time-and-a-quarter enjoyed by other staff including train crews."

Mr Crow said the union had no alternative but to order a strike.

But a First Great Western statement said: "We cannot understand why the RMT has decided to take strike action over this issue.

"As far back as last December we offered all our engineering teams the deal the RMT say they are striking over.

"[This included] enhanced overtime payments, a move to a 35-hour working week, and 100% pensionable pay in a final salary pension scheme."

The operator said more than 70% of RMT members did not vote for strike action and it expected to maintain a normal service during the walkout.